Football players are set to benefit from a major investment at Middlesbrough Sports Village.

Construction work is now under way to build new pitches at the sports complex in a £330,000 investment.

The pitch extension - expected to be open in August - is part of a move to progress the centre’s football development programme.

Everyone Active, sport and leisure operators, have come together with Middlesbrough Council to invest the cash into the village.

The sports village has four existing five-a-side pitches, but is gaining another six.

New 5-a-side pitches being made at Middlesbrough Sports Village (Image: Peter Reimann)

Alongside training facilities, the sports village is aiming to offer a range of new initiatives, including football themed parties for children and an extension of the seven and five-a-side league programme.

More than 350 players between three and 14 attend coaching sessions, and some are coached by UEFA qualified coaches.

A total of 50 local football teams also use the village to train every week.

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Paul Eyre, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “Our main objective at the centre is to encourage sport development and we’re working with a number of partners and clubs from various sporting divisions to achieve this.

“We’re very much looking forward to the additional pitches becoming available in August and will be communicating their progress with local people soon.”

Manager John Clifford (Image: Peter Reimann)

Everyone Active is also developing a cycling programme, similar to the current football initiative.

The scheme plans to use facilities at the village to nurture cycling talent.